"I just feel like it's time to move on and decide what else I want to do with my life," she said.

A news release from the home builders said she had stepped down to pursue other interests.

Cameron Moore, the governmental affairs director for BASE – the Business Alliance for a Sound Economy – will take over both of Girardot's positions on Jan. 1.

Girardot said she "was recruited for the home builders to put some muscle into their governmental affairs," and that resulted in creation of BASE, which has been active in issues affecting the building industry in North Carolina's coastal counties.

Girardot said BASE is well respected on the federal, state and local levels, and that it "has formed coalitions with the academic and environmental communities. Sometimes such organizations don't necessarily do that. I'm proud of that."

"I would say the most important bill BASE worked on during my tenure was House Bill 1305," Girardot said. "This bill affected all homeowners statewide, but particularly in the 20 coastal counties, ensuring financial stability of the Beach Plan, increasing transparency and allowing public input into the rating-making process.

"Two other bills that we worked on during my tenure that were critical to our members and economic development were Senate Bill 831... This bill helped home builders through very tough economic times as it extended the duration of all state and local permits and approvals affecting the development of real property in North Carolina."

Another bill BASE pushed and which just passed this General Assembly session, was House Bill 279. It "authorizes the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to transfer certain environmental permits associated with property development when the original property owner is unwilling or unable to agree to the permit transfer.

"This is a major boost for economic development allowing distressed subdivisions to be developed, thereby putting framers, builders, plumbers, electricians, painters and many others back to work."

The home builders association members have "come through some very tough times in the past few years and (the association) has helped members to survive.

"I wasn't about to leave during the tough times," Girardot said. "With the market turning, I can leave now."

The builders association is a 1,000 member-firm trade group that provides services to more than 9,500 individual members. It says it is the largest trade association in eastern North Carolina,

<p>Donna Girardot will step down as executive officer of the local home builders and CEO of the lobbying organization BASE at the end of year.</p><p>Girardot, who has held the position with the <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic9988"><b>Wilmington-Cape Fear Home Builders Association</b></a> since 2002, said Wednesday that she had been considering resigning for a while.</p><p>"I just feel like it's time to move on and decide what else I want to do with my life," she said.</p><p>A news release from the home builders said she had stepped down to pursue other interests. </p><p>Cameron Moore, the governmental affairs director for BASE – the Business Alliance for a Sound Economy – will take over both of Girardot's positions on Jan. 1.</p><p>Girardot said she "was recruited for the home builders to put some muscle into their governmental affairs," and that resulted in creation of BASE, which has been active in issues affecting the building industry in North Carolina's coastal counties.</p><p>Girardot said BASE is well respected on the federal, state and local levels, and that it "has formed coalitions with the academic and environmental communities. Sometimes such organizations don't necessarily do that. I'm proud of that."</p><p>"I would say the most important bill BASE worked on during my tenure was House Bill 1305," Girardot said. "This bill affected all homeowners statewide, but particularly in the 20 coastal counties, ensuring financial stability of the Beach Plan, increasing transparency and allowing public input into the rating-making process.</p><p>"Two other bills that we worked on during my tenure that were critical to our members and economic development were Senate Bill 831... This bill helped home builders through very tough economic times as it extended the duration of all state and local permits and approvals affecting the development of real property in North Carolina."</p><p>Another bill BASE pushed and which just passed this General Assembly session, was House Bill 279. It "authorizes the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to transfer certain environmental permits associated with property development when the original property owner is unwilling or unable to agree to the permit transfer.</p><p>"This is a major boost for economic development allowing distressed subdivisions to be developed, thereby putting framers, builders, plumbers, electricians, painters and many others back to work."</p><p>The home builders association members have "come through some very tough times in the past few years and (the association) has helped members to survive.</p><p>"I wasn't about to leave during the tough times," Girardot said. "With the market turning, I can leave now."</p><p>The builders association is a 1,000 member-firm trade group that provides services to more than 9,500 individual members. It says it is the largest trade association in eastern North Carolina, </p><p><i></p><p><a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic99"><b>Wayne Faulkner</b></a>: 343-2329</p><p>On <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/news41"><b>Twitter</b></a>: @bizniznews</i></p>